FIM Superbike World Championship Imola, Italy September 30, 2006 Superpole Results: 1. Troy BAYLISS (Duc 999F06), 1:48.804 2. James TOSELAND (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:49.394 3. Andrew PITT (Yam YZF-R1), 1:49.433 4. Troy CORSER (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:49.442 5. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:49.497 6. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:49.840 7. Noriyuki HAGA (Yam YZF-R1), 1:49.856 8. Alex BARROS (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:49.888 9. Ruben XAUS (Duc 999F05), 1:49.958 10. Lorenzo LANZI (Duc 999F06), 1:50.081 11. Michel FABRIZIO (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:50.362 12. Ivan CLEMENTI (Duc 999RS), 1:50.737 13. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:50.892 14. Regis LACONI (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:50.963 15. Norick ABE (Yam YZF-R1), 1:51.147 16. Vitorrio IANNUZZO (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:51.306 More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing: Frustration for Foggy PETRONAS Racing at Imola Steve Martin was denied a chance to challenge for a Superpole slot through a frustrating chain of events in the closing stages of the second qualifying session at Imola. Lying just 0.05 seconds outside the top 16 and having saved the softest rear tyre until last, the session was stopped with 1:53 seconds remaining when a rider crashed and deposited oil on the circuit. With his Foggy PETRONAS Racing crew preparing to send him out to try and complete a lap within that time from a standing start, the session was brought to a premature end, leaving Steve heading the fifth row for tomorrow’s 11th round races. Team-mate Craig Jones made further progress in morning qualifying, reducing his best lap time by another half a second despite an engine failure, and will start from 28th on the grid. Both riders used the afternoon free practice to further evaluate potential race tyres, finishing the session 18th and 28th respectively, while champion-elect Troy Bayliss claimed pole position in the Superpole shoot-out. Steve said: “To miss out on Superpole by 0.05 seconds was a bit of a disappointment, especially as I was out on the circuit on a new tyre with the chance to improve my time when the session was stopped. But I do not think it puts us at too much of a disadvantage because you finish the race where you are going to finish. We worked really hard in the afternoon with a full tank, our race times have come down and we look like we can lap in the 51s. At that pace, and with a bit of luck, we can challenge for points tomorrow” Craig said: “I made more progress in the morning but in the afternoon I tried a different tyre which I wasn’t as keen on. I used the afternoon to learn more and I was looking for people, like Fabrizio and Chili who know the circuit, to follow. I just need more laps here as the track is still new to me but I think I will be able to go quicker in the race. Obviously I would like to be further up the standings but I don’t think my times are too bad, so I am not too disappointed.” More, from a press release issued by FGSport Group: BAYLISS SECURES POLE ON DUCATI’S HOME GROUND – PRE-RACE BOOST FOR CHAMPION ELECT BAYLISS Having finished pre-Superpole qualifying only sixth fastest, runaway championship leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) pulled out a remarkable new track record of 1’48.805 to secure the pole position starting place for Sunday’s 21-lap Superbike races. His irresistible pace in Superpole put him some 0.590 seconds ahead of second placed rider James Toseland, who also ducked under his personal best to score a 1’49.394 and take second place on the front row. The front row four will be completed by Aussie duo Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) and 2005 champion, Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra). The front row also features four different manufacturers on the front row. KAGAYAMA GOES FROM FASTEST TO FIFTH Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) was the fastest rider in regulation pre-Superpole qualifying, and despite taking risks during his Superpole lap; he dropped to the front spot on the second row after Superpole. Arguably the star of the entire Superpole show was Max Neukirchner (Alstare Engineering Suzuki) who rode his heart out to go from an already impressive ninth in regulation to sixth. In overall second in the championship chase, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) went seventh in Superpole. A fully competitive rider throughout his SBK Imola debut was Alex Barros (Klaffi Honda) but he could only score eighth after the lone duelling session of Superpole, taking the final place on the second row. XAUS IN THE VANGUARD AT ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE CIRCUITS Privateer Ducati rider Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Berik) is a three time winner at Imola, and despite the lack of factory horsepower, or sophisticated electronics, he was a force all through practice and set ninth fastest time in Superpole – largely thanks to a small error in the modified Variante Alta. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) was cheered all the way into the top ten by a partisan local crowd, outperforming another Italian rider, Michel Fabrizio (DFX Treme Honda) to take tenth. Another Italian ace, Ivan Clementi (Tem Pedercini Ducati) rounded out the top three rows in 12th place, on an even more venerable Ducati than that of Xaus. LACONI MYSTIFIED AT FOURTH ROW START Having scored three previous race wins at Imola, PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse rider Regis Laconi was dismayed to find himself so far down the regular qualifying, and eventually the Superpole order. Last rider to qualify for Superpole, Laconi was 14th fastest after Superpole, behind Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) who was himself recovering from a slow crash, just before the start of Superpole. Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France Ipone) and Vittorio Iannuzzo (Celani Suzuki) rounded out the top Superpole 16. MARTIN JUST MISSES SUPERPOLE BY A WHISKER Losing out on the up sections during Imola’s frequent changes of elevation, Steve Martin (Petronas FP-1) scored 17th place on the grid, helping demonstrate how difficult a qualifying task it was for both Fonsi Nieto (Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse) 18th and Chris Walker (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) at Imola. Kurtis Roberts was an ever-improving 20th on the second Pedercini Ducati, ahead of Josh Brookes (Kawasaki Bertocchi), who had suffered a heavy fall earlier in the day. Pierfrancesco Chili (DFX Treme Honda) was subdued in Superpole, scoring only 26th place. SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP A fabulous battle of wills between team-mates Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) and Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda) characterized the second and final WSS qualifying session at Imola, with the 2005 champion Charpentier easing to a new track best of 1’52.245, with Sofuoglu only 0.269 behind. Third fastest was another Honda rider, Katsuaki Fujiwara (Megabike Honda), with championship leader Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) fourth quickest, and starting from the front row on Sunday. Top Ducati rider was local man Gianluca Nannelli (SC Caracchi Ducati), fifth quickest. SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP Luca Scassa (EVR Corse Ormeni MV Agusta) took pole for Sunday’s 1000cc Superstock race thanks to his time from first qualifying, 1’54.074. Ilario Dionisi (Unionbike Gi Motorsport MV Agusta) leapfrogged Friday’s second quickest rider Brendan Roberts (HP Racing Suzuki) to take second on the grid. Claudio Corti (Yamaha Team Italia) was fourth, while championship leader Alessandro Polita (Celani Suzuki) went seventh. SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP With Niccolo Canepa (Ducati Xerox) out of the race the field was left open for Xavier Simeon (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) to take the crown at Imola and he duly did so – but not without some nervous moments. He made a hard pass on eventual race winner Davide Giugliano (Lightspeed Kawasaki) early in the nine-lap race, but ran on into the final chicane, simultaneously losing the chance of another victory, and gifting full points to the following Giugliano. Sylvain Barrier (Moto1 Yamaha) scored a fine third place in the Imola race. With one race remaining, Simeon now has 196 points, Canepa an unchanged 151 and Giugliano 145. More, from a press release issued by Team Klaffi Honda: Barros in eight on the grid Alex Barros (Team Klaffi Honda) secured eight spot on the grid in todays Superpole qualifying at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola. Barros went into Superpole from fifth position after the second qualifying. Alex Barros: “I made a mistake in my Superpole lap, missed three corners in a row going through the Aque Minerale. I think a time about 1:49,4 was possible for me. That would have put me in up to fourth or fifth. Our race-setup and my pace under racing conditions are quite promising. Tomorrow will try to get two good starts and be with the leaders as soon as possible, without letting anybody to escape.” Klaus Klaffenböck, Team Manager: “Let us say we got away with a blue eye today. Alex had a few mistakes on his lap. Honestly I expected a bit more after the good performance in the qualifying practices. A good start will be crucial for Alex tomorrow, than he is be able to stay with the leading group.” More, from a press release issued by Winston Ten Kate Honda: SECOND IN SUPERPOLE FOR ON-FORM TOSELAND James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda) scored second in an intense Superpole competition at a warm and dry Imola, having secured his best lap time of the weekend with a 1’49.394. Superpole was taken by championship leader Troy Bayliss, with a blitzing 1’48.804, with Andrew Pitt and Troy Corser now also on the front row of the grid thanks to their Superpole performances. James’ immediate championship rival, Noriyuki Haga, was seventh fastest, and starts from row two. In 13th place Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) will now start from the fourth row of the grid for Sunday’s 21-lap Superbike races, after not setting a Superpole lap as fast as his best time from the opening day of qualifying. Sliding off his machine shortly before Superpole began restricted Muggeridge’s speed in Superpole, but he his confident in his race pace for Sunday’s competition. Ronald Ten Kate Team Manager “Good for James to be on the front row and I would say his time was quite good. I never expected that anyone would go into the 1’48s, to be honest. On race tyres we are pretty consistent; we have shown that in all the sessions so far. With raceday to come James always has a little extra to bring, so we are looking forward to the races, which should be very good around here, and all the top guys are up there. Karl I feel sorry for a bit, because crashing out before Superpole does not boost your confidence so he’ll have to put up a fight tomorrow to show what we all know – that he is worth more than his Superpole starting position. We have some work to do in the garage tonight with the electronics package, because finally we have time to do it, now that the chassis set-up is basically OK. We need to fine tune the electronics system and that should bring us quite a bit for tomorrow’s races as well.” James Toseland Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (2nd Position Superpole lap time 1’49.394) “My Superpole lap was good but I saw Troy’s lap before I went out and that was pretty good also, so he deserves a round of applause for that one – going from a 50.2 to a ‘48.8! But we’ve been good all weekend, top three all weekend, and I put a good consistent lap together to get a front row start. That was important because there is hardly a straight in a straight line here, it’s all braking on angles and braking into corners, then it’s straight into the next one, so it will be tough to pass. It will be tough to win tomorrow over the full race distance but it is possible – and I will be going for it. I want to finish off the season strong.” Karl Muggeridge Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (13th Position Superpole lap time 1’50.892) “Due to fall I had in the last session, I wasn’t confident enough to push the bike the way I would normally do in Superpole. I could have done better without the crash but I will have warm-up tomorrow to set the bike up the way I want it again, to be competitive in the race.” More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Engineering Corona Extra: SUPER SIXTH FOR MAX! Team Alstare Engineering Corona Extra rider Max Neukirchner embarrassed many of the top factory riders at Imola today by posting the sixth fastest lap in Superpole. The German led the charge for over half of the 16-rider Superpole shoot-out and was only beaten by determined rides from the leading contenders. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) took Superpole with a tremendous lap of 1:48.804 – the only rider to dip into the 1:48s. Second was James Toseland (Honda) with Andrew Pitt (Yamaha) third and then Max’s fellow Alstare riders Troy Corser and Yukio Kagayama fourth and fifth respectively. MAX – 6th, 1:49.840 I am very happy with my Superpole lap, even though I made a little mistake during it. But sixth is pretty good considering everything and it’s a sign that I am getting to understand the Alstare Engineering bike more and more. Unfortunately I had a bit of a crash in the afternoon practice and although I was OK, the bike was pretty badly damaged. I’m afraid I gave my mechanics a lot of work to do. Sixth was good today, but what’s important is tomorrow. I need a couple of good starts and be strong throughout the two races. If I can do that, I can look forward to a couple of good finishes. More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra: FRONT ROW FOR TROY. Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Troy Corser set the fourth fastest time in Superpole today and will start tomorrow’s eleventh round of the 2006 Superbike World Championship from the front row of the grid. His team mate Yukio Kagayama is just behind, in fifth place, and both are determined to get podiums in tomorrow’s pair of 21 lap races. Series leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati) took Superpole with a lap of 1:48.804, the fastest he has been all weekend, with James Toseland (Honda) second and Andrew Pitt (Yamaha) third. It was a also a good day for Alstare Engineering Corona Extra rider Max Neukirchner. The young German rode a superb Superpole and posted the sixth quickest lap of the 16-rider shoot-out, ahead of many of the top factory riders. TROY – 4th, 1:49.442 I’m pretty happy I am on the front row and that’s important here at Imola because there are not that many passing places. Taking Superpole was a possibility, but when the rear of the bike started moving around like it did, it was hard to go faster then Bayliss. But, I’m satisfied with my bike set-up on race tyres and we’ll have to see how it goes tomorrow. I hope that I will not be involved in a big fight at the start of the race because I want to conserve my tyres a little for the end of the race. When it’s hotter, our tyres don’t seem to work as well, so I’d prefer cooler conditions than today. YUKIO – 5th, 1:49.497 I am sort of happy with the set-up of my bike for the race, but a lot will depend on how hot it is tomorrow. For me, the tyres do not work the same way in hot conditions as cool conditions, so the end of the race is going to be very interesting if it is as hot as it was this afternoon. I am bit disappointed with my Superpole lap. I tried very hard and I really wanted a front row place. So now I need two good starts and for me usually that is not a big problem. I want two podiums tomorrow and I will try my best to get them. More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati: BAYLISS (DUCATI XEROX) SETS BLISTERING LAP TO TAKE SUPERPOLE FOR IMOLA WORLD SUPERBIKE ROUND Imola (Italy), Saturday 30th September: Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) set a blistering lap of 1 minute 48.804 seconds in Superpole for tomorrow’s Italian Round of the World Superbike Championship at Imola. The 37 year-old Australian, only sixth after the two qualifying sessions, knocked more than a second off his performance to take his fifth Superpole of the year and the twelfth in his career, outrunning second-placed James Toseland (Honda) by almost six-tenths of a second. “We put a good lap together in Superpole but Imola is a really difficult track” declared Troy. “It’s very technical and has a strange surface so we’ve been working hard with the bike to make it do what I want and honestly it took until the last session to find what we’re looking for. Right at the end of the session, we found it and straightaway I just felt comfortable on the bike. I knew I was going to do a good lap anyway but wasn’t sure about a 1m48. Now I’m really confident and I’ve done a lot of laps on the race tyre. The situation I’m in right now in the championship, I’m really happy with pole. We’ll wait and see how it all goes tomorrow but it’ll be interesting for sure”. Lorenzo Lanzi looked much more confident in the one-lap Superpole session as he recorded his quickest time this weekend but it was only good enough for tenth place on the third row of the grid. “My lap in Superpole was not bad but it could have been better”, commented Lorenzo. “It was my best lap of the weekend but it wasn’t enough. Pity, because it means I start from the third row. However after my long-run in the afternoon session I am quite happy with the pace on my race tyre. I aim on getting a good start because at Imola it’s not easy to overtake”. More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: Frustrating day for Roberto Rolfo in Superbike: the rider from Turin has been also unlucky when something entered into the braking system and Roby got some difficult, then when the problem has been solve and he started for a fast lap, the practice ended for red flag. “Actually we had no luck.” commented Roberto Rolfo at the end of qualifying practice. “Today the bike performed better, but I had a strange feeling with the brakes. I joined the pit for a control and the braking system looked to be OK, but I had once more the same problem. When we found the solution we lost a lot of time, I started for a fast lap and the red flag stopped the qualifying session, so I’ve been unable to improve my performance.” More, from a press release issued by Team Yamaha Motor France – Ipone: Abe in Superpole Norick Abe qualified for Superpole where he finished in 15th position. Shinichi Nakatomi was 22nd and Sebastien Gimbert (injured) 25th. After some good practice sessions, Norick Abe was in the top 16 to qualify for Superpole. He will start tomorrow from the fourth row of the starting grid. As he his finding more and more grip, he is confident that he can do a good race on Sunday. Shinichi Nakatomi qualified 22nd, with a time of 1:51.406, while Sebastien Gimbert was 25th in 1:52.116 (Friday time). Norick Abe: “I had some gearbox problems so we had to change my engine. The new one was different, and also the gearing. So my feeling was not so good. Tomorrow I will use my old engine that has been fixed, so everything should be OK.” Shinichi Nakatomi: “My feeling is progressing well. The bike is better and better. But there are a lot of riders on the track and it is very difficult to find a clear lap to do a fast time.” Sebastien Gimbert: “Things did not go very well. We are trying to rebuild my bike like it was until it was destroyed at Assen when I crashed. It is difficult for me to have my feeling back after I raced the Bol d’Or on a slightly different bike. I am not in top physical shape, not at 100%. I do not really understand: I love this track, but I don’t have the feeling.” Martial Garcia (team manager): “Abe did very well. By the end of this season, he is doing better and better. Nakatomi tried hard for his first time on this difficult and dangerous track. Gimbert has the consequences of his Assen and Bol d’Or crashes. He was very courageous with a broken rib. It is normal that it is difficult for him to have a good rhythm.” More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Press Office: Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Troy Corser set the fourth fastest time in Superpole today and will start tomorrow’s 11th round of the 2006 Superbike World Championship from the front row of the grid. His team mate Yukio Kagayama is just behind, in fifth place, and both are determined to get podiums in tomorrow’s pair of 21 lap races. It was a also a good day for Alstare Engineering Corona Extra rider Max Neukirchner: The young German rode a superb Superpole and posted the sixth quickest lap of the 16-rider shoot-out, ahead of many of the top factory riders. Series leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati) took Superpole with a lap of 1:48.804 with James Toseland (Honda) second and Andrew Pitt (Yamaha) third. Troy Corser – 4th, 1:49.442: “I’m pretty happy I am on the front row and that’s important here at Imola because there are not that many passing places. Taking Superpole was a possibility, but when the rear of the bike started moving around like it did, it was hard to go faster then Bayliss. But I’m satisfied with my bike set-up on race tyres and we’ll have to see how it goes tomorrow. I hope that I will not be involved in a big fight at the start of the race because I want to conserve my tyres a little for the end of the race. When it’s hotter, our tyres don’t seem to work as well, so I’d prefer cooler conditions than today.” Yukio Kagayama – 5th, 1:49.497: “I am sort of happy with the set-up of my bike for the race but a lot will depend on how hot it is tomorrow. For me, the tyres do not work the same way in hot conditions as cool conditions, so the end of the race is going to be very interesting if it is as hot as it was this afternoon. I am bit disappointed with my Superpole lap. I tried very hard and I really wanted a front-row place. So now I need two good starts and for me usually that is not a big problem. I want two podiums tomorrow and I will try my best to get them.” Max Neukirchner – 6th, 1:49.840: “I am very happy with my Superpole lap, even though I made a little mistake during it. But sixth is pretty good considering everything and it’s a sign that I am getting to understand the Alstare Engineering bike more and more. Unfortunately I had a bit of a crash in the afternoon practice and although I was ok, the bike was pretty badly damaged. I’m afraid I gave my mechanics a lot of work to do. Sixth was good today, but what’s important is tomorrow. I need a couple of good starts and be strong throughout the two races. If I can do that, I can look forward to a couple of good finishes. More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: FIRST ROW FOR TROY! Troy battled throughout his Superpole lap in this afternoon’s heat at Imola and came away with a place on the front row of the grid. His lap of 1:49.442, was the fourth quickest lap in Superpole and means that , as long as he makes a good start and doesn’t get caught up in a first corner coming together, he will be in a good position to challenge for a podium or two. His fellow countryman, Troy Bayliss (Ducati) took Superpole with a time of 1:48.804, the only rider to get into the 1:48s today. Second on the grid is James Toseland (Honda), with Andrew Pitt (Yamaha) third. TROY – 4th, 1:49.442 The front row is good enough – especially after my Superpole lap. It was quite lively, I can tell you! But it seems to be a fact that, when the conditions are hot, our tyres don’t work as well. I don’t know why and I don’t think the technicians know why either. Also, when it is hot, tyre life becomes more critical and it’s something I’ll have to think about for the end of the race. If I don’t get involved in many big fights, it may be possible to conserve the tyres, so that I’ll have something in hand at the end. I think we’ve got a pretty good bike set-up on race rubber, so there’s no reason why I can’t fight for a podium or two. This season has had a lot of ups and downs and I really want to finish with podiums. I’m in fourth place at the moment, but third is not out of the question yet. That’s what I’ll be aiming for. Wish me luck. Troy